Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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'Lost' actor's trial put off again

Like a television show cliffhanger, resolution of "Lost" actor Daniel Dae Kim's drunken driving case was put off for yet another day.

Kim showed up yesterday in Honolulu District Court to answer to a charge that he was highly intoxicated while driving his car on South King Street in Moiliili on Oct. 25. His blood alcohol content was 0.168. The legal threshold for driving drunk is 0.08.

The city prosecutor and Kim's lawyer, who are negotiating a plea agreement, agreed to reschedule the actor's court hearing to Aug. 14.

Kim's arraignment, plea and trial were originally scheduled for February and had already been rescheduled twice.

A month after Kim's arrest, the state Judiciary revoked his license for six months, a period that ends May 24.

Michener on isle-themed stamp

A stamp featuring the author of the best-selling book "Hawaii" is now available for sale, the U.S. Postal Service said in a news release.

The 59-cent stamp (for letters weighing 1 to 2 ounces) of former Hawaii resident James Michener shows him wearing a lei over an open-collared shirt.

Michener, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author of more than 40 books and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is part of the U.S. Postal Service's "Distinguished Americans" series.

Michener won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1948 for his book "Tales of the South Pacific," which was based on his observations while serving as a lieutenant in the Navy during World War II. The book was the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "South Pacific," which became an Oscar-winning movie in 1958, with scenes filmed on Kauai.

In 1977, President Gerald Ford awarded Michener the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He was also a member of the U.S. Postal Service's Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee.

Michener died in 1997 in Austin, Texas.

Mayor endorses Obama campaign

Mayor Mufi Hannemann endorsed Honolulu-born U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for president yesterday.

Hannemann cited Obama's support for federal funding for Oahu's new mass-transit project and the senator's intellect, strength and character as reasons for his decision.

"I feel Barack Obama offers the best hope for our nation during these troubling times," Hannemann said in a statement.

The mayor said either Obama or his rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, would serve the country and Hawaii well. But he said Obama's "style and substance" appealed to him.

"I feel a kinship for this man who grew up in Hawaii and whose heart is still in the islands," Hannemann said.

The Honolulu mayoral race is nonpartisan, meaning candidates run without representing a particular party. Hannemann is known to be a Democrat and has run for Congress in Democratic Party primaries in the past.

Obama issued a statement thanking the mayor and referring to when Hannemann coached Iolani high school basketball and Obama played for the opposing team at Punahou.

"Mahalo to Mayor Hannemann for endorsing my candidacy for president," Obama said. "I have known Mufi since my basketball playing days in high school, and I appreciate all of his efforts to make Honolulu a better place to live."

Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said she's grateful for the mayor's endorsement.

Soetoro-Ng lives in Honolulu and teaches history at La Pietra, the Hawaii School for Girls.

Obama took 76 percent of the vote at Hawaii's Democratic caucus in February compared with 24 percent for Clinton. He received 28,347 votes to Clinton's 8,835.

Group to host candlelight vigil

The Chinese student association at the University of Hawaii at Manoa is holding a candlelight vigil for victims of the Sichuan earthquake tonight at 8:30.

Members of the Chinese Students and Scholars Association and friends plan to meet near the main campus bus stop on University Avenue, next to the great lawn.

Chamber raises funds for relief

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii expects to raise at least $50,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Sichuan province at its installation banquet tomorrow, said a chamber news release.

Chamber President-elect Ted Li will be asking the 450 guests, including past presidents and board members, to donate to the chamber's earthquake relief fund.

An anonymous donor has already agreed to match donations of up to $10,000.

The chamber has so far collected more than $25,000 and can accept tax-deductible donations by cash, check or credit card (Visa/Mastercard). Contributions to the relief fund may be mailed to:

Chinese Chamber of Commerce Foundation

76 N. King St., Suite 202

Honolulu, HI 96817

Re: China Sichuan Earthquake Relief Fund

For info, call the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii at (808) 533-3181.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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HONOLULU

Man allegedly took 20 DVDs from store

A 24-year-old man was arrested yesterday after allegedly trying to steal 20 DVDs from a store.

About 2:15 p.m. the suspect was seen taking the DVDs from a store at 700 Keeaumoku St., placing them into his backpack, and leaving without paying, police said. He was detained by store security.

Police arrested him on suspicion of second-degree theft.

EAST OAHU

Pedestrian critical after being hit

A 28-year-old woman was in critical condition after being hit by suspected drunken driver last night, police said.

Police said the woman was crossing Kalanianaole Highway near Keahole Street in Hawaii Kai at 8:43 p.m. when she was hit by a gold four-door Infiniti.

The woman was crossing from the mauka to the makai side of the highway and had made it across the town-bound lanes when she was hit, police said. She was not in a crosswalk.

Police said speed was not a factor in the accident. The driver of the car, a 54-year-old Hawaii Kai man was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence of an intoxicant, police said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Police investigate stabbing on Kauai

Police are investigating a stabbing yesterday on Kauai that left a 49-year-old man in critical condition.

The man, who sustained his injuries at Fuji Beach in Kapaa at about 4:30 p.m., was taken to Wilcox Hospital, according to a Kauai County news release.

Witnesses said bystanders subdued the 29-year-old suspect and injured him, the release said.

The suspect was taken to Wilcox Memorial Hospital in unknown condition.